Major Accomplishments Of James Polk

Unparalleled -- that is how James Polk can be described in terms of the accomplishments he had attained. His determination resulted to the success of every goal that he had set for his stay as president. In a single term, he gained all the endeavors that he took part in and wished to complete.

Dedication was his key to create an effective and efficient presidency. He reduced the tariff during his office and created a moderate policy that remained for fifteen years. This regulation only ended due to the civil war.

The recreation of the independent treasury was also part of his agenda. Independent Treasury is a system of having the government handle the revenues instead of dispersing them to different banks. The implementation of this gave order to the disarrayed fiscal system. His greatest achievement is mostly found in international and diplomatic affairs. He fixed the diplomatic crisis that arose between Britain and the major battle with Mexico. This battle is where United States had a landslide victory. Treaties and negotiations that occurred under his wing made the territories -- California, Oregon, the Southwest -- under the United States’ map. This is a large amount of land, which comparable to all the nations of Europe together after the WWII. These accomplishments of James Polk can be regarded as the foundation of United States’ acquired power in this generation.

In the past, history did not give importance to the achievements of Polk. Most of the research done about him centered on the expansion. He was often dismissed as “Polk the Mediocre,” but sooner the role he played in the creation of great presidents, especially the achievements he gained the reputation of being an expansionist.

The 11th President of the United States, James Knox Polk retired after just one term as president. That could be because he fulfilled whatever he set out to do. That could be because he was a workaholic. So, it stands to reason that he did not have much spare time. More..